Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:32:34 GMT -6

Aster found himself staring down at a dragon the size of a cat.

Well, maybe it was more accurate to call it a cat that had dragon parts. But it--- he, for the creature was a male--- had so many dragon parts that Aster couldn’t really have said it wasn’t one, if he hadn’t known the difference himself. The labs had certainly become more creative as of late, and he was looking at the latest results of such an endeavor.

The Felusine, for it was a Felusine if only in theory, stared back up at him. The tail waved once, not like a dog, but not unlike the way a cat might do it, from side to side.

And then the voice broke into his head.

{Hello!} said the Felusine. He had no physical voice, only a mental one, but even mental voices had a sort of… quality and tone to them, as Aster had found out.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:33:21 GMT -6

He had mental connections by ribbon to a few of his creatures, so he wasn’t wholly unfamiliar with the feeling, but this was the first time he found himself addressed in his own head without one of the ribbons being attached.

Even knowing that it was possible, and knowing that it was coming, did not help prepare him for this.

The Felusine had a pleasant voice, a light and cheerful one that had almost a musical quality to it. {You’re the one I was made for, aren’t you?} he said, blinking wide eyes at Aster. Aster knew from the tone with which he said it that the Felusine hadn’t meant it badly, but he still felt deeply uncomfortable hearing it laid out just like that.

{You look tired,} the Felusine said before he could answer. {I can help with that, I think. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To help.}

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:33:51 GMT -6

He wasn’t wrong, but Aster wondered at him for knowing so much. Was it because the Felusine could read his mind, and knew something of what he was thinking? He generally had to direct a thought as something he wanted communicated or understood for his creatures to get it, but maybe it was different when the ability was innate to the creature. And the Felusine was an intelligent one, as the labs didn’t release a telepathic creature without elevating them… His mind went briefly to questions of morality and self-determination, but he brushed those thoughts aside. He had never been much of a philosopher. Dwelling on that kind of thing for too long tended to send him into a negative spiral, so he had just learned to go without.

The Felusine had now given him several questions without getting a single response, so he subsided, but Aster still took a moment before he could reply.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:34:18 GMT -6

At last, he sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. “Yes and yes,” he said, trying to look even a little less uncomfortable than he felt, and mostly failing at it. “I mean, yes, you were supposed to be sent here. For me.” It felt like pulling teeth to say it, but there it was. And the Felusine didn’t seem like he was judging Aster for it, though maybe it was only because he was so new. When he had a better grasp of the world around him, and some chances to do a little navel gazing of his own…

No, they’d cross that bridge when they got to it. For now, the Felusine was still watching him expectantly, so he was forced to keep going. “And yes, you’re here to… help. If you can, anyway. If you can’t, that’s that, and we’ll figure something else out.”

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:34:39 GMT -6

But it would be nice if the Felusine could do what Aster hoped he'd be able to do, and help with managing the Sarane. As it turned out, keeping a lot of individuals from a real territorial and competitive species in close proximity was not ideal.

{I’ll certainly try my best!} said the Felusine. {And I’m sure I can do it, so please don’t look so put out.}

“Mmm,” said Aster noncommittally. The confidence of this creature didn’t inspire the same in him, but the Felusine wasn’t necessarily wrong. They’d certainly find out eventually, at any rate. But Aster knew that he would probably have to teach it a few things before they could even approach the Sarane, so it might not be any time soon. “Well, before we get started, we’re going to need something to call you. You have a name for yourself or something?”

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:35:49 GMT -6

The question he’d posed only made Aster feel even more awkward about the whole affair. It was interesting, because he’d dealt with sentient creatures before, but the Hara had all pretty much been nascent when he first met them, so he was the one to give them their names--- and none of them disliked them enough to change them once they got older either. Summer had no way of telling him her name, but he had come up with one to call her by and she’d liked it well enough, so that was that. But he’d never had to ask a creature, who was somehow all at once new but fully grown and cognizant, what their name was, to their face.

Heck, did this one even know? The pause, and the stunned look on his face, told Aster that he probably didn’t. Aster sighed again. “Do you… not have one?” he ventured.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:36:17 GMT -6

{No. I…} There was a hesitation when the Felusine next spoke into his head. For the first time, Aster saw the persistent, almost pushy cheerfulness of the Felusine falter. {I was under the impression that you would, um, give one to me, actually.}

Aster rubbed uncomfortably at the back of his neck and looked away. Gods and angels, this was uncomfortable. He felt bad; he felt as though he had made some sort of social misstep, like he was bullying someone or something. He didn’t know how to do this. “Alright, well…” he began, but he hadn’t really been prepared for this either. Actually, he hadn’t realized it until now, but he had unconsciously sort of been banking on the creature already having a name. At least, it had felt presumptuous to come up with one, or even multiple, potential names for something that was going to be sentient and able to communicate.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:36:27 GMT -6

Was this how people felt when they named their kids? Except their kids were just screaming babies, and actually, he’d been through that before when he’d named his Hara. No, this was definitely weirder. Babies were babies--- new, and, well, not able to really converse with you yet. That was the difference, wasn’t it?

“Look, this is going to be a big deal. I mean, we can always change it, but a name is you for however long you have it, you know?” Aster said at last. “So I don’t want to just stick you with the first thing that pops into my head. Why don’t we… I have some books. Why don’t we see if we can find anything in there you like?”

Fortunately for him, the Felusine took him up on this offer. Aster half reached out to pick him up, but checked himself before he could make contact, then rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:36:37 GMT -6

The Felusine, noticing this, said to him, {You can pick me up if you like. I don't mind. I'm not slimy or anything either, so you don't have to worry about that.}

"Right…" Aster said. He still didn't feel convinced that it was alright, but now that the Felusine had said this much, he could hardly back out. He reached out and picked the Felusine up after all.

Despite the Felusine's reassurances about his own texture, Aster still hadn't been sure what to expect. It still shouldn't have been a surprise that the Felusine was warm, but he was surprised anyway. Well, he hadn't exactly asked them to make the creature cold-blooded, and even cold-blooded creatures weren't cold, necessarily.

The Felusine's hide was soft to the touch too, smooth and yielding, not unlike skin. He wiggled slightly in Aster's hold, finding a more comfortable position, before settling in and waiting expectantly for Aster to walk into the house, presumably.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:37:54 GMT -6

Aster was stalling and he knew it. Sighing again, he made his way in, where a small entourage was waiting for him. The Hara looked particularly interested in the newcomer, possibly because the Felusine was small and pleasantly colored and had wings like them. Most of Aster's charges were things much too big for them to play with.

For now though, it wasn't the proper time for an introduction. "Later," Aster said, shooing them away. They were disappointed and annoyed by this, but Summer was there to keep an eye on them and make sure they listened, so Aster made his way to the library for the time being.

Once he was there, he set the Felusine down. "Pick a book, I guess. Fiction might be best, which would be… that shelf over there." Aster indicated a particular shelf with a loose gesture of the hand, one that contained story books as well as novels.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:38:12 GMT -6

Not that there weren't names in nonfiction, but it wouldn't have been in nearly as great a concentration, and they would likely be the names of noteworthy current or historical figures. Having a Felusine going around and introducing himself as one of those would probably be… pushing it, to put it lightly.

The Felusine turned in the direction that Aster had indicated, peering at the books. Aster realized belatedly that the Felusine probably couldn't read. Being spoken to like that, Aster had briefly sort of… forgotten the Felusine's limitations in knowledge, even as he was still hung up on the Felusine's physical form.

The spines of books didn't offer much in the way of indication, except through their titles, so Aster had no idea on what grounds the Felusine had chosen the book he'd picked. But he did choose one, and began flipping through it in such a way that Aster half doubted his initial assessment that he couldn't read.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:38:41 GMT -6

{What does this say?} the Felusine then asked him.

Ah.

Chiding himself inwardly, Aster drew up beside where the Felusine was, now on the ground, next to a book. He was a little surprised to see which it was. By some funny coincidence, the Felusine had picked a book about dragons, but there was no way he could have known that. The cover was plain bound leather, and of course he hadn't been able to read the title at all.

"That's not a name," Aster said. The Felusine had been pointing at the word 'feast' which even as word names go, would have been a terrible one. "Here, I'll read you all the names I can find, and you can pick one out."

{Oh. Yes, let's!} said the Felusine. He certainly had some enthusiasm for this, though Aster hadn't been acquainted with him long enough to know whether this was genuine enthusiasm for the task or just his general temperament.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:38:51 GMT -6

Given what he had seen thus far, Aster felt like it was probably the former, but he couldn't say for sure just yet.

He did as he said he would, and read out any new name he found for the span of several dozen pages. He found that while there were a lot of names mentioned, they tended to repeat--- the same characters in a scene. This novel wasn't as good a place to look for names as he had initially thought either.

Eventually though, they had a good list, as Aster had taken to noting them down as he went to keep track. The Felusine kept asking him to go back to this one or that one, so he had begun writing them down as a matter of practicality. His memory wasn't the worst, but this was much easier than trying to memorize so many things on such short notice.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Post by Aster on Sept 7, 2019 12:39:09 GMT -6

The Felusine was really taking this pretty seriously though. Aster had half expected him to take the first name that was offered, what with the way he had been talking before. But given the choice of names now, he was deliberating over them, asking Aster to read this one or that one again. Aster began to wonder if they would end up having to go through a baby name catalogue or something. It was the Felusine's right to it if he wanted, but… If Aster was being honest, he hoped that the name issue would be resolved sooner rather than later. It was awkward not having something to call the Felusine. It was just one of many awkward things about this arrangement, but at least this one should have been straightforward to resolve.

His fears were, in the end, unfounded, however. The Felusine shortly pronounced himself satisfied with one of the names.

Tell me, you who is mine,Tell me, you who is mine,What can I doif Idon'thaveyou?

Shoutbox

Morgan: No one knows yet. But I did want to make it clear that the jar itself isn't used for lotine husbandry in any way. c:Jun 5, 2020 4:24:19 GMT -6*

Twilight-Claw: I'm only assuming that it does something similar like a Fungal Beast that infects a Leaf-scatter. (the one with moss and I think it was a pink flower growing on the head.)Jun 5, 2020 4:18:34 GMT -6

Morgan: The lolatic doesn't disappear after one use, and can be reused on the same lotine when it is allowed to 'infect' a lotine- to my knowledge.Jun 5, 2020 1:41:37 GMT -6

Morgan: The only effect/thing that the jar can be used for is to open up into a lolatic. The jar itself has no use in lotine breedings.Jun 5, 2020 1:39:52 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: and the jar is then gone, if with the creature I am more guessing with this the creature doesn't disappear and it has unlimited use.Jun 5, 2020 0:17:55 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: Something else I am wondering about with the Lotine breeding is whether one would use the jar the Lolatic comes from in the breeding, or actually the creature itself. I'm assuming with it if its the jar, then it gives people only one shot in a breeding, Jun 5, 2020 0:16:08 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: Then using it in my rps is definitely just for the sake of rp's and not for anything additional. Jun 5, 2020 0:12:17 GMT -6

Renathan: There's no additional effect for adding a fish to a magical berry in a lotine breeding. Magical Berry is kinda it's own thing. Adding a fish for roleplay value shouldn't hurt, but it has no effect when used on a magical berry lotine breeding.Jun 4, 2020 22:27:14 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: be just for the sake of rp, and perhaps seeing if it might lent a bigger chance to multiple offspring with unique pattern. X3Jun 4, 2020 15:31:01 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: I think your right on it being unlimited use yeah, although.. *cough* I only found out a couple hours after I started writing that I had yet to buy the fish in question so used the one you could get for free as a replacement, it still was meant to mostly Jun 4, 2020 15:30:59 GMT -6

Riku: From what I loosely understand about the fish is that it isn't one-use, whereas the berry is. I feel like there wouldn't be any consequence of 'using' the fish...which I'd think just ooc wouldn't be counted for whatever rolls or whatever it is that it usesJun 3, 2020 14:14:30 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: Thanks for that piece of info Ren! <3 | But would it be allowed for the flavor of the rp if the berry wasn't filling enough for the Lotine? Jun 1, 2020 6:09:21 GMT -6*

Renathan: There is no need to double up on a fish and a magical berry (doesn't change the effect of the berry at all) in a lotine breeding.Jun 1, 2020 6:02:21 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: Does anyone know if it is possible to combine both a magical berry and a fish in a Lotine breeding? Or is you can only choose one of them? (right now writing a Lotine breeding) Jun 1, 2020 5:36:49 GMT -6

Twilight-Claw: I am still interested in trading it for a green drake. Jun 1, 2020 0:31:33 GMT -6